Segway riders cause too many close calls

After witnessing a near-collision between an inattentive Segway driver and a pedestrian near the Hilton Hawaiian Village, I wonder if an accident is what it will take to take these vehicles off the sidewalks? Segways go too fast on the sidewalks, zig-zagging in and out of the way of pedestrians. So, now let's see, pedestrians have to continually look behind themselves to avoid reckless and inconsiderate bike riders, skateboarders and now Segways!

Come on, Mr. Mayor, a collision between a Segway and a pedestrian is going to happen very soon. Especially when they are texting on their cellphone while driving it! How long before we're dodging mopeds on the sidewalk? I guess in the not-too-distant future, if laws aren't enforced.

Folks, keep your head on a swivel and stay alert while walking.

Johnny Miro
Honolulu

There are options besides Akaka Bill

In your Feb. 2 editorial the headline talks about the "urgency" of the Akaka Bill now that the U.S. Supreme Court has acknowledged the law (Public Law 103-150, the Apology Bill) and what many Hawaiians have been saying for more than a decade. Unfortunately and incorrectly your newspaper assumes to the public that the Akaka Bill is the only option available. Besides the nation-within-a-nation model (Akaka Bill), there are the options of restoration of the kingdom, compact of free association, independence in any form the people may choose, or remain a state.

The state-created Office of Hawaiian Affairs has been spending millions of dollars pushing the Akaka model for years without offering Hawaiians or the public any education on the other options. A free, fair and open process must begin where Hawaiians have an honest chance to understand all their choices. This is fair because Hawaii was taken illegally, breaking treaties between the United States and the Hawaiian kingdom, international laws and conventions, and even U.S. constitutional law, which states in Article 6 that treaties are the "supreme" law of the land.

Steven Tayama
Waimanalo

Gov at No. 474? Where are our priorities?

The Feb. 4 headline "Lingle at best No. 474th in salary" annoyed me. Why should the person who is supposedly the CEO of the state make less than 473 of her employees? Is the job of governor not as important or less difficult or less valuable than what those other 473 people do? The University of Hawaii football coach will make $1.1 million this year. Where are our priorities? As a state, if where we put our financial resources reflects what we value most, then we must value entertainment more than we do our future.

Mark Doo
Honolulu

Hawaii voters should have earlier primaries

After watching a few presidential primaries on television, don't you feel that it would be great if Hawaii had early primary elections, too? To see where our local people lean toward which candidates would be very interesting.

How strong in popularity is Barack Obama? What about Hillary Clinton? On the Republican side, where does John McCain or Mitt Romney stand?

Can Hawaii Democrats and Republicans change their primary dates like so many other states?

Roy E. Shigemura
Honolulu

No angry dogs in this primary election

Your Feb. 6 headline "DOGFIGHT" is very misleading. The use of sensationalism to sell your publication undermines your journalistic credibility. Especially when it misses the mark.

The Democratic primary contest between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama has been anything but vicious, as your headline implies. The real story of the day, buried on page 7, was that these two candidates have managed to inspire voters to turn out in record numbers without the usual mud slinging and political antics. At least so far ...

...Thomas H. Jones
Honolulu

Keep campaign cap on corporate donations

Reading your paper Sunday morning, I was appalled to see the "old school" at the Capitol trying to make a U-turn back to the old days where dirty money and dirty politics rhyme seven days a week on Beretania.

House Bill 2455 and Senate Bill 3141 are a disgrace and an embarrassment to our state. There is no way we should pass bills that allow big corporations to give more than the $1,000 cap in place now to any politician.

A politician should not base a campaign on how much money there is in the bank but how good his or her program is. People are sick and tired of corruption scandals, big bucks spent and candidates being the puppets of corporations.

It is time for politicians to become public servants, not corporate servants.

House Speaker Calvin Say, Reps. Kirk Caldwell, Blake Oshiro, Tommy Waters, Sylvia Luke and Senate President Hanabusa (who introduced the bills), think again of how much damage those bills would do in our political system.

This is one reason why, in our state, so many people stay away from politics. Maybe that is what you want, fewer people involved in your business so you become richer.

Guy Belegaud
Honolulu

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